we went canvassing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we went canvassing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of going out to solicit votes, opinions, or support, often in a political context. Example: "During the election season, we went canvassing in our neighborhood to encourage people to vote."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"We went canvassing.

The New York Times

We went canvassing together.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If we succeed we shall be able to answer the credibility question that we get when we go canvassing.

The Guardian

When we're in a local market — we call it Hertz Local Edition — we go canvass the neighborhood and let everyone know we are in town.

The New York Times

The writer went canvassing for Jackson.

The New Yorker

FLANKED by four campaign volunteers and a French television reporter, Corinne Narassiguin, a Socialist candidate in France's coming parliamentary elections, went canvassing in her would-be district one evening in May.

The New York Times

A plutocratic chinless wonder to stand as Conservative candidate in the overwhelmingly working class central Fife constituency in the 1997 general election, where Rees-Mogg came third and actually reduced the Conservative vote, possibly because he went canvassing with his nanny in a Mercedes.

The Guardian

To get a flavour of the group and their principles, I decided to accompany a few members as they went canvassing around Edinburgh.

Vice

We're due to go canvassing in a few minutes, and she wants to look decent.

The Guardian

"We can go canvass the neighborhood," she says.

Vice

It's time to go canvassing with the local candidate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing political campaigns or community outreach, use "we went canvassing" to clearly indicate the act of going door-to-door to solicit support or opinions.

Common error

Avoid using "we went canvassing" when you simply mean conducting a survey or gathering information without direct interaction. Canvassing implies active engagement and persuasion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we went canvassing" functions as a statement describing a past action, specifically the act of going out to solicit votes or support. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct. Examples show it used to describe campaign activities and community outreach.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we went canvassing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe the action of soliciting votes or support, particularly in political or community contexts. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, the phrase has a neutral register and serves to inform about past actions aimed at gathering support or opinions. While alternatives like "we campaigned door to door" or "we solicited votes" offer nuanced meanings, "we went canvassing" remains a direct and widely understood way to convey this activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we canvassed the area

This option is more formal since the verb canvass is used.

we campaigned door to door

This alternative specifies the method of campaigning.

we solicited votes

This focuses on the purpose of canvassing, which is to get votes.

we drummed up support

This highlights the action of generating support for a cause.

we did the rounds

This implies visiting many places to gather opinions or support.

we rallied support

This phrase means working actively to gather or increase support for a cause.

we engaged in outreach

This is a more formal way to describe connecting with people.

we went electioneering

This alternative uses a less common word to mean campaigning.

we hit the streets

This phrase conveys the action of going out to meet people.

we sought public opinion

This phrases focuses on gathering opinions.

FAQs

What does "we went canvassing" mean?

The phrase "we went canvassing" refers to the act of going door-to-door in a specific area to solicit votes, support, or opinions, typically for a political campaign or cause.

Is "we went canvassing" formal or informal?

The phrase "we went canvassing" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "we conducted outreach" may be preferred in certain situations.

What can I say instead of "we went canvassing"?

You can use alternatives like "we campaigned door to door", "we solicited votes", or "we drummed up support" depending on the specific context.

In what contexts is "we went canvassing" commonly used?

The phrase "we went canvassing" is commonly used in political discussions, community organizing, and social activism to describe efforts to engage with people directly.